SOAR - Students with Abilities Society

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Mission Statement

The purpose of this club is to provide support, social interaction, self-advocacy training for students with disabilities,
and to enhance public awareness of all persons with disabilities.

Events

Club kick-off on September 30 @ 7:30pm-8:30pm at BDC 153

Car wash fundraiser on October 9 @ 10am-2pm at the Brookside on Coffee and Hageman

Officer Bios

President: Kyle Mende

I’m a senior at CSUB and will be graduating in June 2011.
I’m majoring in business with a concentration in general management.
I want to be president of the Students with Abilities Society because I can gain experience in a leadership position role.
Second, I had learning disability problems throughout my schooling, but I have stayed motivated to do well.
I’m hoping to become a role model for disabled students and to inspire them to be successful in schooling.

Vice President: Taylor Gombos

I'm a junior at CSUB and I am hoping to graduate in the next year.
I am majoring in communications with an emphasis in journalism and am hoping to be a great photographer someday.
Kyle invited me to this club to help us achieve our goal of bringing awareness to everyone about different types of learning disabilities and to let everyone know that just because someone has a learning disability doesn’t mean that they are incompetent.
In other words disabled students are capable of doing anything they set their minds to. Although this is my first time being in a leadership role, I look forward to the challenges we as a club will face and I look forward to helping the club achieve success.

Treasurer: Melody Armijo

I’m a senior at CSUB and will be graduating in March 2011.
I’m majoring in business with a concentration in accounting, which is why I’m helping out as a treasurer for this club.
I met Kyle (the president of this club) in an accounting class, and he came to me and asked if I wanted to be treasurer of this club.
I’m really hoping that this club will be able to get off to a good start and that any one interested in making new friends will join. =)

Advisor: Leonard Perez

I have been a part of California State University, Bakersfield campus for over six years as a staff member and student club advisor.
I am also a former CSUB graduate student, graduating with an M.S. in School Counseling in 2005. I received my undergraduate degree in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
During my time as a CSUB graduate student, I was a paraprofessional with ETS for one year. After one year of study, I traveled back to UCSB to work for the Housing & Residential Services department for three years.
I returned to CSUB in 2004 to continue my graduate work and began working for Residential Life. After almost six years I made the transition to my current role, a Disability Advisor for Services for Students with Disabilities.
It has been a pleasure working with Services for Students with Disabilities and an honor to be the advisor for the Students with Abilities Society.